Tamsin Mori uses the atmospheric setting of Shetland to great effect in her magical Middle Grade novel - The Weather Weaver - a story about family and friendship, and weathering the storms that shake those all-important foundations.
When 11-yr-old Stella arrives on Shetland for the summer holidays, she is filled with expectations and excitement about spending time with Grandpa. But Grandpa is nothing like the man Stella remembers from her early childhood. Changed by his grief over the loss of Stella’s beloved Grandma, Stella’s dreams of exploring the island together evaporate like morning mist. Grandpa even seems determined to keep Stella indoors, and is as moody as the Shetland skies.
By attempting to make things better, Stella somehow manages to make everything worse; and when she accidentally breaks Grandma’s special mug, she and Grandpa have another big fall out and Stella runs away from the cottage.
A woman called Tamar finds Stella on the cliff paths and takes the younger girl under her wing, spotting a vein of her own weather-weaving magic in Stella. The beginnings of a lovely, intergenerational friendship develops, and so Stella’s own magical ability. With a new purpose and a pet cloud called Nimbus, Stella is soon busy whipping up winds and training puppy-like Nimbus to stop brain-fogging Grandpa. Mastering new skills seems to be helping her master her own stormy feelings, too.
All too soon, however, the time for practicing is over and Stella finds herself in the eye of a powerful storm conjured by The Haken; a sea witch who is determined to destroy the beautiful island and the weather weavers who protect it.
The striking cover art by David Dean captures the elemental power of Stella’s magic, which is as intense as her love for her family and her island.

Many of us long for that nostalgic homely feeling of the place we spent our childhood, and eleven-year-old Stella is no different. Having moved away from the Shetland Islands as a young child so her parents could follow their careers, Stella is delighted to be returning, albeit alone, to share the Summer with her grandfather. But her delight soon fades, as she realises that the island, and her Grandpa, aren’t quite how she remembers them. Everything seems duller, somehow, and Grandpa is just not the same without Grandma, keeping her stuck in the house and forbidding her from exploring the island. Nomatter how hard Stella tries to cheer up Grandpa, she just keeps missing the mark and upsetting him more, so after a particularly difficult moment, she takes off alone to explore the island. But instead of finding the birds and wildlife she’s hoping for, she comes across a mysterious lady called Tamar, whose unique skills and ability to control the weather entice and intrigue Stella. As Tamar mentors Stella in the ways of weather-weaving, she begins to hone her own unique skills, but will her power grow string enough to take on a malevolent being, hell-bent on raising the seas and destroying the island?
The Weather Weaver is a beautiful story of discovery and finding your true self. Stella not only contends with her new found skills, but also her sense of belonging to the island and to her family. As she uncovers new talents, she also uncovers truths about her family and their choices. Tamsin explores the issue of grief, bereavement and separation so delicately and sensitively, there are difficult and uncomfortable moments, and poignant moments too, but all pitched perfectly for a middle grade audience. It’s so important that these issues are included in fiction so children have the chance to experience these emotions along with Stella. I have to say my favourite part of the whole story was Nimbus – who knew it was possible to feel so much fondness for a cloud? The backdrop of the Shetland Islands was so perfect, I couldn’t imagine the story taking place anywhere else. I felt the strong winds on my face, and the sea spray on my face. The whole concept of weather weaving is original, exciting, and brilliantly written and explored, I do hope Tamsin explores it even further in her future work.

Thankyou to NetGalley and UCLan Publishing for advanced access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was okaaaayyy....I wasn’t wowed by it to be honest, it all felt a bit flat, I’ve read so many more books that grabbed me but this one just didn’t.

There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s a nice story, hence the 3.star...it just didn’t hit the spot I wanted it too.

As usual, my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy

Read this book with both my son and daughter. They loved the part with the cloud mis behaving and liked to imagine what they would do with the cloud. Really enjoyable read.

A stunning MG novel, thank you for the chance to read it. Stella is on a trip to the remote Shetland Islands to visit family, Whilst there she is taught her magical powers of weather handling and weaving, moving clouds and changing the rain, but can she control her temper too? Face to face with mortal danger, Stella has to learn to channel her powers for good
I am sure this is going to be a favourite for many children, recommend 10+

Spent the day training clouds on Shetland with the flawed-yet-loveable heroine, Stella. Imaginative, magical & brave, this adventure sensitively portrays realistic family relationships & how grief looks different to all. Five star escapade which my class will love. Really hoping for the sequel!

Mystical and mythical, The Weather Weaver is an immersive read with magical story and dramatic backdrop. Thanks to Tamsin’s word-weaving, the incredible Shetland land and seascape comes alive – the wind whistles and the cold stings; the sea sucks at the rocks and the thrill of the sometimes cruel and untamed beauty is clear as a rare, cloudless day. There are turns-of-phrase and descriptions that are literally breath-taking. And it’s not only the temperaments of elements that she conjures so well. This isn't a cup-a-soup story; it builds and builds as we accompany Stella on her adventure. It starts with the young girl visiting her lonely grandfather on Shetland, where she finds both him and the island to be cold and unfriendly. Then she meets a woman who shows her how to catch a cloud. Stella learns not only that she possesses magic, but also a temper that must be controlled if she is to master her art. Headstrong and impulsive at first, Stella soon realises that in order to use her magic well, she must train her mind and channel her moods. Because, when the time comes – when the Haken arrives to threaten the island’s very existence – she will need to be level headed, rational, reliable. One wrong move and the pale-faced witch will win… The story is steadily established in the first half, before the second half whisks you off your feet in a whirlwind of drama, crackling like an electrical storm. There are echoes of The Dark Is Rising in that battle between chosen child and folkloric evil, and it briefly steps close to horror - but only enough to make the heart race and leave its calling-card. With solid characters, each with their imperfections and redemptions, and a wild imaginative story, this is perfect for kids that don’t only want to be entertained, but involved.

It was so refreshing to read something different.
Me and my son read this together and we loved the adventure. Weather is something my son loves so now he thinks he can conjure up a storm.

I can’t even fully explain how gorgeous this book is, seriously. It’s absolutely beautiful. So much magical atmosphere and wonderful characters, and the author’s imagination is astounding! I loved reading about all the different types of weather magic, and the idea of a pet cloud was amazing. This book is a serious contender for my book of 2021, and it’s only January!

A spell-bounding story with a unique concept and fantastic protagonist. I fell in love with this book! The start immediately gripped me and I could not put it down. Stella is amazing. We get to see different sides of her which makes her more well rounded. Nimbus was adorable. Even though he couldn't speak, I just loved his character through all the things he did. Stella and Nimbus' friendship was so wholesome as we saw Stella eventually making up with him and forgiving him for hurting her grandad. Grandad's character arc was great as we saw him grown from a grouchy old man to a loving grandad. The concept and world building was also very great. The aspect of controlling weather really fascinated me. Overall a fantastic read and I definitely recommend it. I'm strongly anticipating a sequel!

I think a great many of us can empathise with Stella, who’s excited that she’s back in Shetland, where she had such great times with her Grandpa and Grandma. But she’s also feeling meh, because her parents have gone off on another expedition. And then… it’s nothing like she thought it would be.

Stella is often cranky. Just as you’re feeling pretty sympathetic with her plight, she does something that I, at least, thought was pretty mean. But then, she’s lonely and confused, and the temper really does seem justified. Especially when it seems she’s learning magic, but not really.

Her cloud is adorable. Anyone who’s had a puppy will know ‘those looks’. And training a cloud is much like training a puppy, I think.

But once it gets down to the big business, which is part of what her grandmother predicted, and why her parents took her away from the island in the first place, you just know that the cloud will come through, with or without Stella’s help. But Stella has more to learn than teaching her cloud. It’s a wild and complicated world, and she has more power than she understands.

I wonder if there is more to come in this story. It’s exciting, enchanting and full of word pictures of the island–and the weather. I’d certainly like more, and I expect many girls (and boys) will, too.

We were lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. My 9 year old son loved this book and read it in a couple of days.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

This book grabbed my attention as soon as I started reading. I raced through the story in a few hours as I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished it and found out how things ended!

The story is about 11-year-old Stella who goes to stay with her grandfather on one of the Shetland Islands over the summer holidays while her parents are away, working. At first, Stella is excited to be returning to the island, a place which was her home when she was younger. However, Stella's excitement quickly vanishes when she discovers that being on the island no longer feels the way it used to. With tensions in her grandfather's house rising, Stella runs outside to find a quiet place to calm down. It is here that Stella begins to learn about the magic of the island and the magic that is inside herself which are both thrilling, but also dangerous!

I loved the quiet and isolated setting depicted in this book. It felt completely like being on holiday on a remote island and spending the days exploring cliffs and coastal paths. The descriptions of the vast array of weather were detailed and vivid. As I was reading, it was easy to imagine the feel of a bitterly cold wind or the pouring rain followed by the gradual increase in warmth as the sun emerges from behind a cloud. The magic system is cleverly thought out with different ways of creating each type of weather and the way different colours of the rainbow were used.

Along with the beauty of the setting and the intrigue of the magic, this book is a lovely story about a girl and her grandfather dealing with their grief and coming to understand one another better. This topic was handled in a realistic and sensitive way which I really liked.

I would recommend this book to readers aged 9+.

Quite an enjoyable read, which reminded me a little of The Storm Keeper’s Island.

Stella is sent to stay in Shetland with her grandfather over the summer holidays while her parents are away working. Although she is delighted to be back on the island, it’s just not the same since her grandmother died; and grandpa isn’t the same either. One day, running out of the house to avoid another one of grandpa’s mad moods, she meets Tamar, a very odd old lady. Tamar encourages Stella to catch a cloud... and so begins her introduction to weather magic.

The book has had some great reviews and I have no doubt that the target audience will love it; its just not my kind of story. I really enjoyed the beginning when the story concerned Stella’s relationship with her grandpa but once the weather weaving started I became reluctant to pick it up again. I’m just not that keen on fantasy.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story set on a remote island off the Scottish mainland. The concept of weather weavers is wonderful and the sea witch has all the elements of a traditional menacing being I am familiar with through fairy tales and myths. Classically the story focuses on a character away from her parents, feeling the loss of her grandmother, and staying with her grandfather who is also deep in loss. Through the imagery of weather the author explores emotions, particularly the speed at which our anger can become out of hand!
I loved the description of stones holding stories: “The stones absorb it all, until they’re full to bursting. Then they a start to leak a sense of peace. It’s called sanctity...” wow! I have felt this in ancient buildings, in stone circles, and when I visit my favourite rock. Wonderful!
“The Weather Weaver” is a great story for all young (and not so young!) readers and I feel sure we are going to see many more books by this debut author.

Eleven year-old Stella is going to spend the summer with her grandpa on Shetland Island. She’s full of mixed feelings – memories of good times when Grandma was alive (puffins, selkies, hot chocolate and the lighthouse) but nervous about spending an entire summer away from her parents with the sea, boats and Grandpa who just isn’t the same anymore.

Armed with her favourite book, Shetland Myths and Magic, Stella would love to explore the island and look for adventure. Sadly, Grandpa won’t let her out, giving every excuse to keep her inside. Then, she meets Tamar, a strange lady who seems to be able to speak to clouds and control the weather.

Stella is intrigued by the idea of being a weather weaver and charmed by the funny little cloud who seems to have adopted her. She has so much to learn. Will she be prepared in time to face the sea witch who threatens the island?

The Weather Weaver is a story of strength, bravery and finding out who you really are. The strength of Stella’s relationship with her grandparents is key as she learns about belonging, trust and a wonderful future.

Thank you to UCLan Publishing for this beautifully woven book!

Stella’s parents’ work takes them abroad for the summer, so Stella is sent to stay with her grandfather in the Shetland Islands, the first time she has been back since her grandma died. Eager to explore, she is frustrated by his attempts to keep her inside the cottage, and disappointed by the loss of the rapport they had when she was younger. With her attempts to help resulting in the breaking of Grandma’s puffin mug, Stella runs off angrily, and meets Tamar, an eccentric local … and manages to catch a cloud, which reacts to her moods, causing serious consequences when another row erupts between her and Grandpa. Trying to get rid of the cloud, Stella returns to Tamar who begins to train her as a weather weaver, little realising how quickly their skills will be needed.
Fans of mystery and magic will love this story, which weaves Scottish myths into a thrilling tale of battling environmental forces with powerful female characters at its heart. The Shetland setting is beautifully realised, as is the healing relationship between two characters of different generations who have been set adrift by grief. Excitement, a genuine sense of menace, touches of humour and ultimate reconciliation combine in a thoroughly enjoyable novel for upper Key Stage 2 readers and beyond.

'The Weather Weaver' is a gem of a book for middle grade readers. Set in the Shetlands it quickly establishes a cast of compelling characters, and weaves a world of magic and folklore with ease and conviction. The story is told with economy and clarity but emotions are never far from the surface, and the themes which preoccupy young readers - such as independence, the role of parents and the meaning of place - are brought out with subtlety and humour. This looks like the first book in what should prove to be a very popular series.

I absolutely loved reading this book! Nimbus is so cute and I really would love a cloud of my own.
Stella is a great, strong character and I like that Mori lets her explore a whole range of emotions while showing that they can each be helpful (not the stereotype that girls have to be quiet and hide their emotions).
The magic in this book is so beautifully written. Mori manages to get everything to tie together so well. I especially love all of Tamar's jars!
As a crafter, I loved reading about the spinning wheel, knitted scarf, and woven towels. I think there is magic in crafting in my life and reading this book made me wish that I was able to weave like Tamar.
I really hope that this story turns into a series because I really want to learn everything there is to know about cloud magic, and I would love to spend some more time with Nimbus!

I loved the idea of a weather weaver and was very quickly drawn into the story. The excitement is palpable and full of Shetland magic and folklore.

Stella and Nimbus endear themselves to the reader, whilst Grandpa and Tamar sometimes seem not to understand them, the reader always does.

In this atmospheric and magical tale Stella and Nimbus learn a lot and are put to the test. I am hopeful this is not the last we have seen of them because I for one would enjoy another tale of weather weaving and the magic it brings.